The NSW government is still promising to top up the claims of thousands of victims of crime who were short changed by the new victims support scheme; a scheme which reduced compensation payouts by tens of thousands of dollars for some. The new scheme, which commenced on 3 June 2013 applied retrospectively to existing claims. This meant that any claim that was not finally determined before 7 May 2013 would be determined under the new scheme.
Thousands of victims will be eligible to have their compensation re-determined under the old scheme once the government delivers on an election promise. The Attorney General has written to Kelso Lawyers, stating “I assure you that the reassessment of transitional claims will commence before the end of the year.” Ms Upton wrote to Kelso Lawyers on 1 July 2015, just days after the Sydney Morning Herald ran a story on the unfulfilled election promise which made reference to correspondence Kelsos had sent to the Attorney General and Premier in April this year. Ms Upton’s letter can be read in full here.
